9 charged, 1 hospitalized after party near UO campus

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EUGENE, Ore. - Officers found a young man unconscious and drunk at the scene of an unruly 100-person party Monday night, the Eugene Police Department said.

"One of the first things that the officer observed, the first officer on scene observed, was a minor passed out in desperate need of medical attention in the front lawn," said Kelly Putnam with the Eugene Police Department.

The young man was taken to the hospital by medics for treatment.

Police said finding the unconscious minor elevated concerns about the party.

Officers initially responded to a noise complaint in the vicinity of 17th and 18th and Mill Street. Police found several loud parties in the area. One of the homes had an estimated 100 people partying.

As people attempted to flee the party, officers stopped them and found several underage people in possession of alcohol.

After finding the young man unconscious and drunk, police asked the residents of the home for permission to enter and check on the welfare of other young people, police said.

After initially refusing, the residents gave consent to police to enter the home, police said.

Two of the people who live there were arrested and taken to jail. Another 7 got citations. Police have sent a letter to the property owner, advising the owner of the citations for violation of the Social Host Ordinance (Unruly Gathering).

Police issued this list of people charged as a result of police response to the party Monday:

The Ordinance on Unruly Gatherings - also known as the Social Host Ordinance - was passed into law by the Eugene City Council on January 28, 2013. The law holds individuals criminally responsible for hosting, organizing and allowing an unruly event or social gathering. Property owners where the event is hosted will also be penalized if there are multiple violations of this ordinance at the same property. The ordinance applies throughout the city of Eugene.

Oversize, disorderly gatherings and parties involving alcohol have been a continuing problem for this community. These events can disturb neighbors' peace, damage property, create unsafe conditions, tend to attract criminal conduct, and necessitate costly police response. The number of loud party complaints received by the city and criminal citations issued for noise and alcohol-related violations are trending steadily upward, indicating that existing laws have not been effective deterrents.

The Ordinance on Unruly Gatherings was passed by City Council and both the City and the UO have been providing outreach and education to local residents regarding the rules and to ensure everyone is aware of the ordinance. The ordinance then went into effect on March 2, 2013. Eugene Police Department has educated violators through April 1, 2013 and began enforcement effective April 2, 2013. The Eugene Municipal Court has assigned a base fine of $375.00 for criminal violations of this ordinance. Both hosts and property owners could be civilly liable for police, fire and public works response to repeated illegal gatherings that fall under this ordinance.